HSE


WindEnergy Hamburg 2022 Meet us at stand B4.EG.423.


LOOKING OUT FOR THE BIRDS SINCE 2003 Bird Monitoring &


Mitigation Systems (BMMS)


was buoyant, noting: “The transponder-based ADLS represents an important building block for us as local operators, in that a maximum switch-off time of the obstruction warning light represents an enormous relief for both residents and the environment.” Nor is his corner of northern Schleswig-Holstein the only farm moving in this direction. Deutsche Windtechnik, for its part, is due to install 16 ADLSs at Nordergründe, an offshore facility off Bremerhaven in the North Sea. But beyond that headline use of aircraft transponders, how does ADLS actually work? Essentially, an ADLS company first installs a transponder receiver on a turbine. Because a single receiver can control the lights of up to 64 machines, only a few are necessary across even large farms. Each of these receivers has a range of about seven miles, and is activated when an aircraft approaches, switching on the lights and alerting the pilot of the hazard ahead. When a receiver doesn’t sense an aircraft in the vicinity, it will send what Salzwedel describes as a “force light off signal” to all the turbines under its command, dampening their lights and cutting light pollution along the way. For oversight purposes, moreover, the whole process is logged remotely on a central server. Given the sophistication of this process, it’s no wonder that ADLS require intense collaboration between manufacturers and other industry stakeholders. This is especially true, Salzwedel emphasises, with at-sea installations. “In the offshore area at Deutsche Windtechnik,” he says, “it is more the case that we offer the customer a large part of the project management and also communicate with the authorities.” Nor is that the only place where offshore ADLS differ from their landlocked counterparts. Buffered by surf, Deutsche Windtechnik ensures its sea-borne monitoring antennas are made of corrosion-resistant materials. And because maintaining offshore ADLS is so much harder than for turbines in a carrot field, Salzwedel explains that project-specific checks for offshore installations are even more vital – though adds that the ultimate differences between the two sectors aren’t huge.


A lighter touch detect-inc.com 36 WWT024_DeTect.indd 4 10/05/2022 11:08


Despite challenges around installation, it’s clear that ADLS is here to stay – and not just for German wind operators keen to stay on the right side of the law. In a country where wind is central to the country’s energy strategy, avoiding flashing lights and keeping people on side could prove vital. That’s especially if supporters of ADLS can prove that their model protects nature in other ways too – according to that 2018 study and others, avoiding constantly flashing red lights could save up to 80,000 bats across the UK each year. The financial benefits of ADLS could be important too. Though installation is expensive, preliminary studies suggest the technology is more cost-effective than traditional red lights. And though Germany is a pioneer in implementing ADLS, there are signs that other countries could soon follow. Responding to locals unhappy about having their night skies ruined, for instance, legislators in Kansas are looking for ways to cut blinks whenever possible. More to the point, Salzwedel argues that Germany’s example could spark broader enthusiasm for ADLS overseas. “In addition to the regulatory requirements,” he says, “the ADLS solutions are being tested on the German market for the first time, and this enables the international market to gain insights into the systems.” A fair point – and good news for long- suffering humans and bats alike. ●


World Wind Technology / www.worldwind-technology.com


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